Hi guys,

The latest edition of Key Points is now available:

Key Points from "Whatever the Case May Be"

I was *not* impressed with this episode. After the slick cliffhanger, Kate's backstory was a real let-down. And the budding romance between Sayid and Shannon feels incredibly forced. Nonetheless, there's plenty to pontificate on (for example: What are Locke and Boone doing in the woods? What's the real story behind Kate's beloved little toy airplane?), so have at it!

Hi TN1!

I gave this episode a miss, frankly, cuz I'd heard in another forum/chat that it was a lot about Kate -- a character in whom I couldn't care less. So...

Glad to read that Sun is back, at least in one scene. She is MUCH more interesting than Kate is (with or without the Crime Family behind her).

The Toy Plane that Kate is obsessed with - the symbolism is fairly obvious, I think. The characters were all on an airplane that went down: the plane represents a lover (?) Kate shot down/killed... oooooo.

Otherwise?

The last episode before the break really got me going again...and TPTB on this show or the network *I* think blew it by leaving it there. I've lost a LOT of interest in Lost in the two weeks since then. Although I love reading your bulletin reviews. They should move and keep the focus off of Kate and the flirting, and let it happen between the actors as they ACT between the lines, as it were, and keep to writing the *story*.

There's only so much filler I'll take!

Hey Ittot,

I couldn't agree more. I want more island stuff and less backstory. If the backstory helps drive the island developments, so be it, but the previous episode worked because it furthered the current plot.

What's more, there's *plenty* of island stuff to focus on. Voices in the woods, crazy Danielle Rousseau, Ethan, Claire, the metal door, the monster, other survivors, hidden lagoons. There are SEASONS of plot threads on that island.

I missed a few minutes of this ep but probably didn't miss much at all.

Unless that little airplane has some significance, I don't know why there was a need for this backstory. Of course, when you do write something, everything is there for a reason and will probably be used later on. Simple Chekov. Introduce the gun in Act 1 and use it by Act 3.

I agree that there is so much more interesting stuff going on on the island itself. The stuff going on should reveal the character. The ep seemed like a New Year's filler ep - people are just starting to get back from their holidays and watching tv isn't really high on their priority.

Xed

I had a similar thought regarding this episode -- it's not sweeps season yet, so they may be holding back. However, I just read an item at TV Guide that says "Lost" received its highest ratings yet last night, so the producers may have just missed an incredible opportunity to lure in more viewers.

[This message has been edited by trustno1 (edited 01-06-2005).]

Trust, perhaps ABC was thinking that a lot of the 'Lost' viewers would stick around for the 'Alias' premiere directly following the show. That show has a cult following but doesn't do really well in the ratings.

'Lost'does get good ratings, a lot of shows are still in reruns this week, and if you put on even a 'light' show, you may get the viewers that will also tune in for the next two hours.

Just a few things..
Did anybody catch that song she was singing at the end? I recognized the melody. What were the words scribbled onthe map? Blue eternity? Jeez, couldn't get the damn tape in fast enough. Question: Is that the same song that was playing on Danielle's music box?

I missed this episode. Totally didn�t know there was a new ep. Was pretty upset. I want to thank you, Mac, for making me feel better about missing it. Although it seems I missed some first class gratuitous T & A, LOL.

What�s with the coy reference to �Finding Nemo�? It�s not like they would have needed to fork over money or get anyone�s permission to say the title. Pixar = Disney = ABC, right? What am I missing?

Spoonfish, the song was �Beyond the Sea�, an old crooner tune, where the singer is expressing his hope to be reunited in the afterlife with his deceased love. The reference to �Beyond the Sea� will fuel the island-is-afterlife theorists. Maybe they�ll find Scully�s dad. (I dunno if you�ll get that, but Mac will, heh.)

Jack threatened to withhold medicine for personal gain? Somebody remind him that was a Hippocratic oath he took, not a hypocritic oath.

Good call on the MacGuffin reference. Did you catch the name on the side of the toy plane? I�m sure it was �Rosebud�. [Anybody who takes that seriously is invited to reread the first paragraph of my post.] I fear that this show, which demonstrated so much promise, is letting the ratio of clever-to-content get all out of whack. Clever oddity can only go so far without some substantive plot to give it structure. People will be fascinated at first, but eventually, even the weirdest geek act becomes pass�. If a sensible plot doesn�t show up soon, viewers will start to tune out. Call it �Twin Peaks Syndrome�.

quote:

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Originally posted by Deep Cover:
I missed this episode. Totally didn�t know there was a new ep. Was pretty upset. I want to thank you, Mac, for making me feel better about missing it. Although it seems I missed some first class gratuitous T & A, LOL.

Yeah, your girl showed off her assets in more ways than one. I actually thought of you during a few sequences and wondered if the T & A would overcome the plot deficiencies.

What�s with the coy reference to �Finding Nemo�? It�s not like they would have needed to fork over money or get anyone�s permission to say the title. Pixar = Disney = ABC, right? What am I missing?

All I can figure is that the pissing match going on between Pixar and Disney had the network suits sweating over the title. The ambiguous description ("the cartoon with the fish?" WHAT?!) was clunky as hell.

Maybe they�ll find Scully�s dad. (I dunno if you�ll get that, but Mac will, heh.)

Good ol' Ahab. Years later he's still there for his daughter Starbuck.

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[This message has been edited by trustno1 (edited 01-06-2005).]

Spoonfish -- I'm not 100% sure about this, but I don't think "Beyond the Sea" was the song on the musicbox. I've always liked that song and I think I would have remembered the melody. But again, don't quote me on that. It's certainly feasible.

Kate is EXTREMELY fast on her feet. She adapts quickly to whatever situation is presented to her and improvises whatever response suits her purposes. Her various "performances" for Sawyer and Jack make that clear.

So...when Kate opened that envelope and found the toy airplane -- it wasn't what she expected to find. Someone else had left it for her in place of what she thought was going to be there. Her tearful reaction in front of Jack was just another lie.

That last shot of her looking at the plane can be interpreted as "I can't believe I was tricked like this."

The plane may have even been a message to her: "Ha ha. I got you to get on that plane and now look where you are!"

Somewhere beyond the sea
somewhere waiting for me
my lover stands on golden sands
and watches the ships that go sailin
Somewhere beyond the sea
she's there watching for me
If I could fly like birds on high
then straight to her arms
I'd go sailing
It's far beyond the stars
it's near beyond the moon
I know beyond a doubt
my heart will lead me there soon
We'll meet beyond the shore
we'll kiss just as before
Happy we'll be beyond the sea
and never again I'll go sailing
I know beyond a doubt
my heart will lead me there soon
We'll meet (I know we'll meet) beyond the shore
We'll kiss just as before
Happy we'll be beyond the sea
and never again I'll go sailing...


=======================

"La Mer"
Written by Charles Trenet
Courtesy of EMI Records
Under license from EMI Film & Television Music
Published by HNH International Ltd.

"Beyond the Sea"
Original music by Charles Trenet and Albert Lasry
Original French lyrics by Charles Trenet
English language lyric by Jack Lawrence
Published by France Music/MPL Music Publishing Inc.

I too was really disappointed with this episode. As for Kate - enough already! Shannon is a selfish ditz. I was anxiously awaiting an explanation of the metal floor in the jungle for the past two weeks and I have to settle for silly Kate? Yikes! I do want to add a thought, however. I think the man Kate loved (and killed) was her father.

And, what the heck is under that metal floor?????

Hi Robyn,

My money is on the father, too. It makes the most sense, particularly since Kate's storyline is already full of cliches (the sullen loner with a heart of gold? C'mon.)

Credit to "edharris" posting at http://www.spynets.com/forum/lofiversion/index.php/t126.html for the following:

The english lyric in "beyond the sea" bear almost no relation to the French,
except they both involve a big body of salt water.

Also the english has a kind of "sonic" link in that it says: "somewhere"
in the places the French says "la mer".

So, armed with 30 year old college french and babblefish,
(http://www.worldlingo.com/wl/translate)
here a pretty literal attempt at translation:

La mer
Qu'on voit danser le long des golfes clairs
A des reflets d'argent
La mer
Des reflets changeants
Sous la pluie

The sea
which one sees dancing along the clear gulfs
to sparkles of silver.
The sea
Of changing sparkles
Under the rain.

La mer
Au ciel d'�t� confond
Ses blancs moutons
Avec les anges si purs
La mer berg�re d'azur
Infinie

The sea
Confuses the summer sky's sheep
With angels so pure.
The sea
Shepherdess of blue infinity.

Voyez
Pr�s des �tangs
Ces grands roseaux mouill�s
Voyez
Ces oiseaux blancs
Et ces maisons rouill�es

Look!
Next to the ponds
Those tall wet reeds.
Look!
Those white birds
And those rusty houses [cabins of boats?]

La mer
Les a berc�s
Le long des golfes clairs
Et d'une chanson d'amour
La mer
A berc� mon coeur pour la vie

The Sea
Has rocked them [like a baby]
Along the clear gulfs.
And with a song of love
The Sea
Has rocked my heart for life.

In spite of her devious ways, I was beginning to like Kate. She is willing to dig in and help out, seems to be quite brave, but now I too am disappointed that she turns out to be a criminal with a bloody past. I also would like to see less flashback and more forward movement. I must have missed something, they were talking about Claire in the PAST tense as though she were already confirmed dead. I fear Ethan is some type of mad scientist living on this island to avoid incarceration for some prior illegal misdeed. He was willing to hang charlie just for a show of his capability. He must want Claires baby for some stem cell experiment or to create another "Polar bear that can survive in a tropical climate". You have to admit that Kate was at least up front about the guns in the case. She could have waited for the chance to get them herself and misused them for personal gain. Maybe the pathological liar isn't all bad??
Anyway, I fear that the bear will devour our cast one by one till there is only Ethan left and then next season we will have to have a boat shipwreck to provide a whole new cast?
Boy, that ought to get the web buzzing.
till next time..........CUL8R

Thanks Pegasus! I might have confused everyone even more than they are.